Universal said the first projects in the exclusive two-year deal with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci and their K/O Paper Products banner will be remakes of studio library titles The Mummy alongside producer Sean Daniel and writer Jon Spaihts and Van Helsing with Tom Cruise attached. The writer-producers will set up shop on the Universal lot, and former assistants Ben Kim and Kim Cavyan will come aboard as creative executives. Kurtzman and Orci previously had a deal with David Ellison’s Skydance Productions but that didn’t take. Before that, they were with DreamWorks. Their credits include writing two Transformers movies and the Star Trek reboot as well as the disappointing Cowboys & Aliens. On the TV side, they created Fringe produce Hawaii Five-0. Here’s the full release:

UNIVERSAL CITY, CA, May 1, 2011—Universal Pictures today announced the studio has signed a two-year first-look production deal with one of the leading writing/producing teams in the entertainment industry, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, and their K/O Paper Products banner. The duo will kick off their new relationship with Universal by reimagining titles from the studio’s library including Van Helsing and The Mummy. The announcement was made by Universal Pictures Chairman, Adam Fogelson and Co-Chairman, Donna Langley.

Kurtzman and Orci have collaborated with some of the industry’s top creative minds including J.J. Abrams, with whom they wrote the third installment of Mission: Impossible, which grossed nearly $400 million at the worldwide box office. In 2007, they wrote Transformers and went on to write Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in 2009. Together, those films grossed more than $1.5 billion worldwide. More recently, the pair wrote and executive produced 2009’s Star Trek, which grossed more than $385 million worldwide. Accompanying their impressive film resume, Kurtzman and Orci have found tremendous success in television, having created the series Fringe, writing/producing Alias and in 2010, producing the reboot of Hawaii Five-O. They also currently executive produce the highest rated show on Hasbro’s The Hub, Transformers Prime.

“Alex and Roberto are extraordinarily talented writers and producers who know the value of a great story in building successful tentpole films,” Fogelson and Langley said in a joint statement. “They have been a major part of some of Hollywood’s biggest movies and television shows in recent history, and we’re eager to have them build on that success at Universal.”

“We’re thrilled to call Universal Pictures our home,” said Kurtzman and Orci. “From the moment we sat down with Adam, Donna, Peter, Jeff and the entire Uni team, there was an instant flow of inspired ideas. They really understand the importance of building a strong creative team and giving our shared projects their full support. We’re proud to start making movies that will live as part of Universal’s enduring legacy.”

Kurtzman and Orci’s K/O Paper Products will develop and produce a modern reimagining of Universal library titles including The Mummy, alongside producer Sean Daniel and writer Jon Spaihts. The pair will also develop and produce Universal’s reimagined Van Helsing, with Tom Cruise attached to star in and produce the film.

Kurtzman and Orci’s upcoming projects include writing Sony’s next installment of The Amazing Spider-Man; producing Now You See Me, for Lionsgate Summit, set for release in March 2013; and producing Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game, also for Lionsgate Summit. Kurtzman and Orci wrote and produced People Like Us, which marks Kurtzman’s directorial debut and is scheduled to be released in June 2012, and wrote and produced the second installment of Star Trek, set for release in 2013. The pair most recently rewrote All You Need Is Kill for Warner Bros., with Tom Cruise attached to star, Doug Liman to direct and Erwin Stoff to produce.

Kurtzman, Orci and the rest of their K/O Paper Products team, including President Bobby Cohen, will be housed on the Universal lot. Former assistants Ben Kim and Kim Cavyan will come aboard as creative executives. Kurtzman and Orci are represented by CAA and attorneys Michael Gendler and Kevin Kelly of Gendler & Kelly, APC.

23 Comments

re-imaginings of THE MUMMY and VAN HELSING??? You have got to be kidding me. What a joke. Who is making the decisions over there??? This industry is being overtaken by nerds.

elfquest • on May 1, 2012 9:49 am

Since when is it a bad thing if nerds are taking over the industry? I’d love to see these titles come back.

cas127 • on May 1, 2012 2:10 pm

At 10 years old, they hardly left.

Maybe H-wood should halve their skeds (again) and show the *same* films in the Spring and Fall of the *same* year.

It isn’t a reboot/repeat, it is an homage…

nobody • on May 1, 2012 9:54 am

More evidence that you can actually fail upwards in this town. So the awful COWBOYS & ALIENS bombed and the result is Universal gives them their own deal and hands them, what, some of the worst properties in Universal’s library?

The Mummy only worked because Stephen Sommers, back when he had a sense of humor to his work, knew better than to peddle the remake as a horror film. Once he took his bite of success, his films all turned into too-serious, melodramatic, over-expensive garbage. Who wants to see Van Helsing “rebooted”? Nerds, you say “z”, really? It’s nerds who asked for Battleship?

No, it’s a bunch of out of ideas 50-60 year-old industry has beens who can’t for their lives figure out why someone a prime demographic has any interest in Transformers or Marvel Comics, but not a movie based on a table top board game. Well, now that they have K/O in house, they can finally push forward on Kurtzman and Orci’s VIEWFINDER movie. Yes, let’s go ahead and blow $100 million on a movie about that. That’ll line up those young whippersnapper zombies and feed our black tower.

*rolls eyes into infinity*

Dan • on May 1, 2012 10:29 am

Surely the marketplace will discipline the twits in charge of the studios, no? Or will it just reward them endlessly?

Donna • on May 1, 2012 1:54 pm

K&O are excellent writers. Hawaii 5-0 is better than the original, Fringe is the modern “X-Files”. The guys wrote an excellent script for “Cowboys & Aliens” – so lay the blame where it truly belongs, not on the writers and actors! I have complete faith in their creativity and feel that Universal is very lucky to have this youthful and talented team.

Alien Cowboy • on May 1, 2012 4:17 pm

Donna Langley has spoken. She seems to be blaming just Favreau for Cowboys and Aliens which is silly because he directed the script as well as anyone could have. Sorry Donna but the script stunk and so did the movie. You approved the script. Stop trying to blame others and stop trying to make yourself look smart for getting in business with these overpaid hacks. Ron Meyer called the movie shitty he said it was a mess and he’s right it was.

Donna • on May 1, 2012 4:49 pm

Sorry, you are blaming the wrong Donna. I have no direct connection to the film industry. Just someone who loves movies and appreciates K&O as the terrific writers they are. I appreciate well done remakes and felt that Cowboys and Aliens had everything going for it, great script, actors, etc. Not too sure about the editing.

Doc Michaels • on May 1, 2012 10:12 am

Kurtzman & Orci just seem to make a living out of remaking other properties, though in this instance, THE MUMMY isn’t a bad property. If it’s handled properly the film could do huge business. Just look at the grosses on the first two pictures.

VAN HELSING…that is harder to figure as the original was so poorly received, you’d wonder why Cruise would be so hot to trot to it. Unless he actually likes the concept.

HW • on May 1, 2012 10:40 am

Yep, they do indeed make a living remaking other properties, which is perfect for a studio that wants to do its business almost exclusively out of remaking other properties. It doesn’t tend to be the original idea generators who land the studio deals, because original ideas is not what the studios want.

Jenowin • on May 1, 2012 10:13 am

Dudes, way too much hate for K/O. Love their work and their good guys.

However – HOWEVER – maybe now that they’re huge and successful they can hire a barber, cuz day-um.

Rollie Tyler • on May 1, 2012 10:20 am

I can’t wait to see Taylor Kitsch sink his 2nd ship of the summer. John Carter in the Laurential Abyss. LMAO

bettheduck • on May 1, 2012 10:25 am

If they line up a production deal based on the success of their stories/scripts shareholders should rise and overtake the tower.
Their stories had nothing absolutely nothing to do with the billions they made. These guys are not Robert Towne or William Goldman. Mindless idiots can turn out the dribble executives call great scripts. Have them write a MOVIE and not a jumble of images, special effects and stunts. Think LA Confidential and then come back to me with earned success. Michael Bay and only Michael Bay was the force behind Transformers. Whether it was a good movie or not falls on Michael Bay certainly not these guys. These guys are walking backwards on the ladder. And when it tips look out below.

Has That Green Card Expired Yet? • on May 1, 2012 10:30 am

Was REALLY hoping they’d come back for another round of Cowboy’s Vs Aliens…

Langley really needs to hang up her spurs… this is not putting Universal back where they should be.

mike • on May 1, 2012 12:35 pm

Im confused…isnt there already a Mummy and Van Helsing remake? from 1999 and 2004?

UniversalareFLOPPERS • on May 1, 2012 1:01 pm

Universal is promoting themselves by attaching Tom Cruise to this movie! really? Still waiting for his Les Grossman film!!!!!

David • on May 1, 2012 1:10 pm

Bob and Alex are a great get for Universal, and they can use the help.

Angry Brit • on May 1, 2012 1:12 pm

I thought Joby Harold re-wrote “All you need is Kill” for Liman and Warner Bros. K/O are getting there hands on everything geez

Helsing • on May 1, 2012 1:15 pm

A Van Helsing reboot is completely laughable. What an awful movie, why the hell would Cruise be attached to it… Hopefully we get some original work from these two creative geniuses.

The Factmeister • on May 1, 2012 2:18 pm

This is horrible news.

Sean Daniels used to have such a great reputation. Orci and Kurtzman cut-and-paste other people’s stuff listlessly. Is Tom Cruise this desperate?

Agreed with the above. Universal is badly in need of an overhaul.

i c • on May 1, 2012 3:02 pm

So they are TV writers in over their head is what you are saying.

Umm • on May 1, 2012 6:34 pm

Do you have common sense? Do you see any space in his upcoming projects for this silly remake?

Not Again... • on May 4, 2012 3:51 pm

Tom Cruise? Really?? Why won’t he just go away. He’s a terrible actor. He ruins every scene in every movie he’s in, he’s old, he’s ugly, and frankly, there is a wealth of young talent who would be FAR better than him, and would make much more sense to cast since, if the movie performs well and inevitable sequels follow as a result, we don’t have to watch him continue his horrible acting from a nursing home…